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Police identified the victim as Bai Salik, 7, of Manday Street in Barangay Mother Bagua in Cotabato City. She was rushed to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City for treatment of gunshot wound on her right leg and has been declared out of danger.
Reports from the city police said Salik was sleeping inside their house when Police Officer 2 Butch Midtimbang was shot by a still unidentified motorcycle-riding assailant.
But Midtimbang, standing in one corner of the road, survived the attack and was able to fire back at his assailant.
When the assailant fired again, a bullet hit the sleeping girl.
Policemen who responded to Midtimbang’s request for back-up chased the attacker but only caught up with the motorbike driver on the road leading to Mother Bagua, reports added.
Police identified the driver as Ibrahim Pindi.
During the investigation Pindi denied his involvement in the crime. He said he was just hired by the gunman to drive him to Manday Street, adding he was surprised to know his passenger was armed.
Midtimbang, however, is bent on pressing charges against Pindi. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)